Cooking fish

Spirit_2

We eat fish about three times a week. Most of it is cooked in the oven and that keeps the smell down.

If I poach fish (usually smoked haddock), I just have to get the maximum airflow through the kitchen to blow the smell away afterwards. No filters here but a big kitchen with wide windows and a door to the garden. Smell never lingers.

amstel2

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I buy the fish from the supermarket & freeze it before the use by date. I de-frost it later & cook it within 24 hours. Does this make any difference?

VJsmum

Vinegar - That's what you need

A cereal bowl with a small amount of malt vinegar will absorb the smell. Leave it out at least overnight after cooking. you will smell vinegar but not fish. Once you dispose of the vinegar all smells are gone.

POPPYOSCAR

My OH eats fish most days.


He usually has it put in the cooking bags at the fresh fish counter.


We do not get the smell of fish in the house and I would notice because I hate the smell of fish.

LutonGirl

I go down the candle route. I got a "Morning Grapefruit" candle in a tin from http://www.clivescandles.co.uk/the-candle-in-a-tin-collection-5-c.asp and lit it in desperation after a haddock incident. It got rid pretty quickly. Also dispelled the lingering smell of burnt toast when the bread got stuck in the toaster.

VfM4meplse

Rainy-Days wrote: »

Things like a fry up or something garlic that tends to have a strong odour about it - you need something like a yankee wax tart I get mine off eBay but you could by them individually from a garden centre and see how you go! Think the scent like lemon lavender might be enough to do the job!

You are doing the right though keeping the doors shut and the window ajar! Some extractor fans do the job of removing smells others not so!

Weird isn't it when it's cooking it smells devine and you can't wait to eat it, when you have finished you want shot of the pong!

I have a hypersensitive nose, which is why I rarely cook. I love eating soups and curries, just cannot bear the cooking smell - hence batch cook once in a blue moon on a dry day so I can have all my windows and patio door wide open, and freeze immediately. IME a scented candle just doesn't cut it.

Reheating gently is fine though, you don't have to suffer the pungency of the spices / onions!

caroc

A problem for us too in an open plan house. I only usually bake or poach fish now. I put the fishy pans straight into the garden until I can deal with them. I tip any fishy water into the drain in the road, never down the sink, fold up fishy foil and put it in the bin outside, never inside. Fish scraps and skin on the grass for the birds/cats- basically as soon as the fish is cooked all the detritus leaves the house. I wipe the plates with kitchen roll and after washing up the plates and dishes I wipe the bowl and sink with vinegar or anti bac wipe. It certainly helps.

Debran

After you've finished your meal, get a small pan and half fill with water. To this I add a bit of rosemary from the garden. You could use thyme if you have it or maybe some other herb(s).

If I've got some lemon I add a bit of that to the pan or some orange peel. Bring to the boil and let it simmer for about an hour and that usually gets rid of the fishy smell.

katkin

I love to cook and have no quibbles about the after smells from a delicious meal. It's just one of these things... Maybe it's worth trying not to bother with the smells, air your home as usual ans get on with the next smelly, delicious recipe!

Smells are a side effect of cooking. If you're used to heating up / oven ready foods then the smells of cooking may be a bit more pronounced. If you are used to cooking, especially from scratch with fresh ingredients, then smells are going to be more of the norm.

With a fresh clean environment, fish or any other food smell will go - until the next meal. It really isn't worth worrying about.

Welcome to the world of cooking x